Needy sanctuary

Dog sanctuary in desperate need of volunteers, writes Kenneth Cassar in the Malta Animal Rights blog:

Today's The Times and The Malta Independent report that The Island Sanctuary (a no-kill sanctuary) may have to close down soon due to a lack of volunteers. The sanctuary, which is based at Tas-Silg, cares for 160 dogs and is run by about six volunteers, all women over 40, who dedicate all their free hours to the dogs at the sanctuary. Volunteer Yvonne Aquilina says that at least eight or nine people a day are needed to look after so many dogs. Being old dogs, most of them required medication, a lot of attention and sometimes trips to the vet. Moreover, while dogs were recovering they sometimes needed 24-hour monitoring. Ms Aquilina, a teacher, said that there was more work at the centre in winter but that was when the number of volunteers decreased.

While in the past several students and housewives used to appear at the centre to give a helping hand, these were now finding jobs and making less of an appearance. Ms Aquilina said the centre would have to close down unless the situation was rectified. Claire Gafa' explained that currently there are only two volunteers at the sanctuary to do the morning chores for all the dogs. These chores include food preparation, administering medication, letting dogs out for their half-an-hour to two hours' exercise within the sanctuary's premises, cleaning the pens and washing the plates. "These chores are done by two people and it takes us from 6am to 2pm every day," said Ms Gafa'. "We have now reached the point where we can no longer operate in this manner". Ms Gafa' said that the sanctuary would have to close down unless more volunteers turn up...